Bush hails UN vote as great victory for Iraqis

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The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to end the occupation of Iraq, by transferring "full sovereignty" to an interim Iraqi government.

All 15 members of the council backed a US-British resolution that authorises the interim government to manage Iraq until the first elections are held next January, while a US-led multinational force helps keep the peace.

Under the terms of the resolution, the multinational force could stay in Iraq for another 18 months, but Iraq's first free government will have the power to ask it to leave.

The US will maintain the power to "take all necessary measures" to ensure the security of Iraq, but will also enter into a "security partnership" with the Iraqis, to ensure "close consultation" on military matters.

The resolution gives the UN a "lead role" in planning Iraq's elections, humanitarian aid and new census.

The vote on the resolution taken on Tuesday was greeted with applause from the packed Security Council chamber.

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President George Bush and Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, hailed the passing of the resolution, saying the deep divisions over the war were in the past and the world had spoken with a "unified voice".

At the meeting of the G8 industrial leaders in Georgia, Mr Bush called the resolution "a great victory for the Iraqi people" and used a photo opportunity with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to showcase the G8 unity on Iraq. "I appreciate your help, Vladimir, in getting that Security Council resolution through today," Mr Bush said.

Mr Putin called the resolution "a major step forward", but made it clear that European leaders wanted to see the new Iraqi government exercise control over political and military decisions and the continuing role of the UN in organising democratic elections by early next year.

"This is about a quality change in the status in Iraq and with regards to the presence of the military troops there," Mr Putin said.

The unanimous backing for the resolution was a boost to Mr Bush and Mr Blair and came after Mr Bush displayed a new willingness to compromise with his old adversaries on Iraq, including Mr Putin, the French President, Jacques Chirac, and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder.

Key members of the Security Council - including France, Russia and Germany - were fiercely opposed to the US-led war, and refused to sanction military action. In the end, the US and its allies invaded without the UN's approval.

A spokeswoman for Mr Chirac told reporters that the resolution was "a step". France's ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said

it met France's demands "on many points" because it gave Iraq "complete responsibility and authority to govern the country".

While France wanted the Iraqis to have veto power over military action in Iraq, he said, "as that was not explicitly requested by the Iraqi leaders, we are satisfied".

The new unity among the G8 leaders on Iraq reflected concerns that Iraq is facing a deepening security crisis and the threat of civil war. The resolution provides for a special force of international troops to protect UN staff, many of whom are wary of returning to Iraq following the bombing of the UN's headquarters, which killed 23 people.

The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said the new resolution was a "genuine expression" of the international community's will "to come together again after last year's divisions".